Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2009 September 28

= September 28 =

edit/correcting factual errors in an article
I tried to edit/correct a factual error in an article.I dont think it worked. Please advise  Ufolarry (talk) 01:11, 28 September 2009 (UTC)
 * What was the article? The only edit attributed to your account is posting above. --AndrewHowse (talk) 01:13, 28 September 2009 (UTC)

wikipedia merch?
Where can I buy a wikipedia.org shirt?? That would definitely be a hit. Also help with some income. please PLEASE make some shirts! I don't want to get in trouble for any "copyright" crap so you need to produce it.


 * Have you considered purchasing a shirt from here? -- k a i n a w &trade; 03:12, 28 September 2009 (UTC)

How to user-override MediaWiki messages
Is there a way to replace a MediaWiki message with my own message? In particular, I would like to replace MediaWiki:Edittools with my own version. (Obviously, I have no interest in modifying the real thing; I just want my user to display a different edittools (presumably in some subpage of my user page), in the manner of Monobook.css. Di gama (talk) 03:17, 19 September 2009 (UTC)


 * MediaWiki:Edittools is the non-Javascript version. If you see the version with the dropdown box when you edit, then it is from MediaWiki:Edittools.js. ---— Gadget850 (Ed)  talk 11:45, 19 September 2009 (UTC)


 * I am bumping this because the above doesn't really answer my question. If I need to user-override MediaWiki:Edittools.js, then how do I do that? Di gama (talk) 02:20, 28 September 2009 (UTC)


 * See MediaWiki:Common.js/edit.js. The script Edittools.js is not loaded if you set  in Special:MyPage/monoboook.js. Then you can implement your own editpage loader code and your own edittools instead. —Th e DJ (talk • contribs) 14:46, 28 September 2009 (UTC)

electronics
how does base current flows in photo transistor ?
 * You might find what you are looking for in the article about photo transistor. If you cannot find the answer there, you can try asking your question at Wikipedia's Reference Desk. They specialize in knowledge questions and will try to answer just about any question in the universe (except about how to use Wikipedia, which is what this help desk is for). I hope this helps. —teb728 t c 09:52, 28 September 2009 (UTC)

Adding colour to text
I ve not done programming alot, i am wondering if any one could show me few code lines to adding color to text, box, and background i know the general color code is rgb(###)
 * WP:COLOR has plenty of help, but please read the cautions about using color to convey information.-- SPhilbrick  T  12:08, 28 September 2009 (UTC)
 * See WP:COLOUR

Wikipedia Has Put My Page Up For Deletion Is There Anyone Who Can Write It For Me?
Ive tried three times to put my page up named "Sparki Dee" but apparently it is not notable enough even though it has alot of links etc. If there is someone who does loads of pages please can you contact me and if possible can you do the page for me? I have all the info saved, it seems a friend of mine got his page up no problems and its very similar to mine yet of course its always me here that gets put up for deletion!

Please can someone help

What's your friend's page like? We could model it on that? do you have a link to it? --Cameron Scott (talk) 11:32, 28 September 2009 (UTC)


 * Could you add the information you have saved to the article's talk page, and i will ty (not promissing) to bring the article to scratch. (Talk)- Freshymail (Talk page ) the knowledge-defender 11:56, 28 September 2009 (UTC)

A plea for help at Feedback
Those of you who like to help, but find the crack staff monitoring this page are answering all the questions before you can jump in will find gold at WP:FEED. Of the most recent 25 entries, no one has added feedback other than myself. Many articles have zero feedback. Even those with some feedback from me could use additional feedback, as I am only addressing some of the issues. (Cross-posting at Help and New Contributors Feedback)-- SPhilbrick  T  14:05, 28 September 2009 (UTC)


 * I didn't even know that page existed! Watchlisted and will help out where I can. – ukexpat (talk) 16:13, 28 September 2009 (UTC)

Hash signs as numbering
Please see Roaring Forties (album), specifically the track listing. The track numbers are coded as hash signs. However, the numbering has been thrown out because of the bulleted list in track 4. There is a 1 where a 5 should be. How can I force the numbering to continue after the bulleted list? Thanks. --Richardrj talkemail 14:59, 28 September 2009 (UTC)
 * Fixed. Just add a colon or colons after the hash mark to indent items in the list without having them continuing the numbering. I added • to place spaced bullets.--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 15:08, 28 September 2009 (UTC)
 * Thanks, but those bullets are smaller than the ones I had before and they are also indented rather far over to the right. Is it possible to get the list looking like it was before, except with the 5 instead of the 1? If not don't worry. --Richardrj talkemail 15:13, 28 September 2009 (UTC)
 * Ah, another user did it by replacing the colons with asterisks.--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 15:27, 28 September 2009 (UTC)
 * Perfect, thanks both. --Richardrj talkemail 15:28, 28 September 2009 (UTC)
 * No problem. Doktor  Mandrake  15:29, 28 September 2009 (UTC)

Italicized titles
I see that this help page says "italic title," inside braces, is used for genera and species, although I see it it being used, for example, for the title of The New York Times. Can/should this be used for all publications, albums, etc. where such titles should italicized in the body of the article? Thank you. RadioBroadcast (talk) 16:15, 28 September 2009 (UTC)


 * I think it's used for genera and species because they are Latin and it is conventional in the printed world to italicise Latin text. There is some discussion (from earlier this year) on the template talk page about using it in other cases. – ukexpat (talk) 17:51, 28 September 2009 (UTC)

Super, thank you. RadioBroadcast (talk) 18:39, 28 September 2009 (UTC)


 * Italics should be used for 'larger' works such as films, television shows, books, magazines, and video games. "Double quotes" should be used for 'smaller' works such as songs, articles, and episodes.  For instance, 'The Doctor Who episode "Blink"....'  or 'The Pink Floyd song "Fearless" off the album Meddle....'  Dismas |(talk) 21:13, 28 September 2009 (UTC)


 * Yes in the body of the article. There appears to be no consensus to use the italic title template for articles other than those for genera and species. – ukexpat (talk) 21:23, 28 September 2009 (UTC)

date format
I don't keep up with the religious wars over at the MOS - is YEAR-MONTH-DAY really now the preferred style in articles? so for example, "Joe Blow announced on the 2009-08-12 that he would be leaving the band"? --Cameron Scott (talk) 18:50, 28 September 2009 (UTC)


 * the MOS states that YYYY-MM-DD format is not to be used in sentences, just in situations where space is really limited. Sssoul (talk) 19:26, 28 September 2009 (UTC)

Customer service question
WHAT WOULD YOU DO WHEN A CUSTOMER LOOK CONFUSED? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 78.146.213.123  (talk • contribs)   20:34, 28 September 2009 (UTC)
 * Here's hoping someone else can come up with a half-decent punchline, but for now I'd better redirect you: this desk is for helping with questions about using Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Our reference desks may be able to help you with knowledge questions. Gonzonoir (talk) 19:50, 28 September 2009 (UTC)
 * Amusingly, my only punchline would've been along the lines of telling the customer to go elsewhere, so... well done? ~ Amory  (user • talk • contribs) 21:41, 28 September 2009 (UTC)

Disambiguation and Redirect Page question
Hello.

I am trying to build an article on Dust Covers of firearms.

However, when you search "Dust Cover" and "Dust cover" you find two completely different topics, and I would like to see how to fix this.

I don't want to ruin the redirect page (not that I know how to edit it, there is no edit link), and don't want to mark anything as for deletion.

Also, by the general guidelines for a Disambiguation page, there needs to be 3 or more subjects, as far as I know there are only 2 here, although I am happy to create a page discussing car "Dust Shields" which I can AKA Dust Cover, to create a 3rd link.

I'm simply seeking assistance with how to fix this issue. --Dat280zx (talk) 21:11, 28 September 2009 (UTC)
 * I propose a page move from "Dust Cover" to "Dust Cover (firearms)". Jeffrey Mall (talk • contribs) - 21:25, 28 September 2009 (UTC)
 * Additionally a redirect tag should be added to the top of the Dust jacket page to disambiguate the two subjects. Jeffrey Mall (talk • contribs) - 21:26, 28 September 2009 (UTC)


 * Jeffrey, I was originally thinking (firearms) would work, but then I thought, "Well, a dust cover is not a firearm." However, that is the context, so I think it can work.  hmwith  ☮ 21:33, 28 September 2009 (UTC)


 * When you are redirected to dust jacket from Dust Cover, (Redirected from Dust cover) will be right below the title. Click that link. Then, you can create a disambiguation page from there. However, Dust Cover is not a proper noun, so that article should be moved to "Dust cover (X)" (not sure what to place as the X).  hmwith  ☮ 21:28, 28 September 2009 (UTC)


 * I think it should be moved to Dust cover (firearms) which I have just done. In addition it needs a lot more work if it is to survive in mainspace. – ukexpat (talk) 21:31, 28 September 2009 (UTC)


 * There's no need for a dab page. can remain a redirect to Dust jacket; there should be a hatnote on the latter to explain the redirect and perhaps to link to Dust cover (firearms), if the firearm topic meets notability. --AndrewHowse (talk) 21:32, 28 September 2009 (UTC)
 * ✅ Feel free to sharpen/change. Jeffrey Mall (talk • contribs) - 21:46, 28 September 2009 (UTC)

wikipedia
who created wikipedia?


 * The history of Wikipedia is in the article Wikipedia.  GB fan  talk 23:25, 28 September 2009 (UTC)
 * Or try History of Wikipedia. It takes a while to load, though.  Intelligent  sium  01:59, 29 September 2009 (UTC)
 * Also see User:Jimbo Wales. ~ Amory  (user • talk • contribs) 02:17, 29 September 2009 (UTC
 * And also Jimmy Wales. // BL \\ (talk) 02:23, 29 September 2009 (UTC)

AFD Results in Merger
Articles_for_deletion/"Ode_to_Deodorant"/"Brothers_%2B_Sisters" was closed 9 days ago, with a consensus to merge. But no one has attempted to merge the page, and I was wondering what can be done. I'd merge the page myself, but I don't feel the sources at Ode_to Deodorant/Brothers + Sisters are reliable enough. Deserted Cities (talk) 23:36, 28 September 2009 (UTC)